Scheduled to work called out due to snow--can I be fired?

Nurses General Nursing

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I was scheduled to go to work today. I live about 40 miles away from work got in my car and found visibility to be very bad and did not feel safe driving--train not an option. I called out and was told that my patients needed me and that administration was not happy and that I would be dealt with later? Intimidation or is this ground for termination?

I feel that I give so much of myself at work. But it's still not enough. Can I be let go or this?

Specializes in LTC.

I agree with Purple. And yes, what I'm about to say is inflammatory. So be it: If people wish to put their own egos before their own common sense and safety, so be it. But please don't expect others to do the same.

I have been on both sides: I come from a state that has had disastrous winter weather from time to time (CO) and been stuck at work with no relief coming at the end of the shift, and I have been one of those who cannot make it to the end of the street, much less to my place of work. In both cases, the only thing you heard me whine about was the weather itself, not the fact that some wuss of a nurse couldn't suck it up to come in to work in 0 visibility and 3 feet of snow. Freaky weather is NOT a typical occurrence and not all of us have the same level of experience dealing with it (the nurse who moved from AZ to OH, for example). Get over it already.

Shame on YOU for playing the martyrs and expecting others to do the same at the expense of their and possibly others' safety. Way to be a team player. :mad:

"The martyr sacrifices themselves entirely in vain. Or rather not in vain; for they make the selfish more selfish, the lazy more lazy, the narrow narrower." --Florence Nightengale (thank you to whoever has that on his/her profile, that's where I first saw it.)

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

I will never ever drive to work in the conditions I experienced last week and neither should others.

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I can't believe that some people are questioning the decision of some to call out when there is 50+ inches of unplowed snow out there.

I'm not a nurse yet. I work for a security company and I work at a large company in Houston, TX. Every year at the beginning of hurricane season HR gets a list of volunteers in case a hurricane hits. When Ike came, they asked everyone on the list who was willing to work days or nights. We were locked in and provided with showers, food, and a patch of floor to sleep on. We kept the site secure, and even after the lockdown was officially over, most of the emergency crew stayed for the next couple of days to pick up shifts for those who couldn't make it in.

You'd better believe that if I moved back home to Maryland, I wouldn't work for a hospital that didn't have a snow emergency plan set up. Nurses have an obligation to do their job, but businesses that can't close have an obligation to create emergency plans.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
I'm biased, I live 15 minutes from work, when there is a snow advisory I have the option of coming to work early with a bag packed for three days and plan on staying there, or If I don't prefer to stay among the masses, I can stay with my paying a hotel right across the hospital, any way .....

I AM WORK READY

I know when it is coming, I get there, I work and shame on all of you for not doing the same.. Just as you all bought your milk and bread.. you dang well knew you needed to get your butts to work and camp it out.

you're suspended or fired, shame on you for forcing me to work 24 hours straight.

this is what you signed up for, suck it up, and stop your whinning... I grew up in buffalo and never EVER called in.. but did stop to charge the sheriff cars on my way home. get your priorities straight. I'm required to be work ready 24 and 7 and thats what I am... flame away... to the buffalo girl:yeah:

By the way, I'm in the south now, and still get my orifice in, in the ice storm:eek:

Normally, I would be with you , IF this had indeed been what was the norm, the expected weather of this area. And that we did get 3 days advance notice that we were getting THIS MUCH snow.

BUT THIS IS NOT THE NORM, EXPECTED WEATHER of this AREA and NO, WE WERE NOT WARNED 3 DAYS in advance that we were going to have this phenomenal amount of snow.

We have had 79.9 inches of snow this year. Boston has had 30 inches, and Buffalo has had 63.

I spent last weekend (my weekend off) , sleeping on a cot in the outpt department and working extra shifts, and packed, fully expecting to do the same, now. I stayed long enough to insure that the dayshift got tucked in to the outpt the night before their shift, before leaving to drive home in the snow.

The major highways were down to single lane, and the vast majority of neighborhood/off roads were completely unplowed, with 2-3 feet of snow. I had to drive around several back ways, getting stuck several times, digging out with shovel (kept in back of car), before I got home to dig a parking space. The power was out and there were no lights in many places on the road, and the road was not even visible. I passed numerous abandoned cars.

I would have gratefully gotten hotel room....unfortunately the award winning facility that I work for resides in the midst of gun and knife club territory, and there are none. Those that stayed at the nearest hotel 5 kg away, had to walk in - the roads in that area were not plowed (the taxpayers in gun and knife territory don't rate that highly, obviously).

Our area gets an average of 20 inches of snow annually (the all time record is 63inches) , and our total right now is 79.9 inches, this winter. Around 48 inches have been since the first of February. THIS NOT EXPECTED WEATHER.

Snow plows were breaking in record numbers. And there is virtually no place to put the snow, if you can get them plowed. Roofs have been collapsing in the neighborhood, and at least one fire station has burned down, including a large amount of brand new equipment. A second one burned down today.

Shortly after I arrived home, level 3 emergency was declared and hospital personnel, unless absolutely vital were barred from driving. Only people permitted driving were first responders/fire/snow removal equipment. And snow removal equipment got pulled off the road when we went to whiteout for several hours.

WHICH MEANT LEGALLY WE WOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO DRIVE.

I watch the news, and reviewed the data from the Nat. weather service. Before the first storm, we were told 1-6 inches two days before, then 6-10 inches, then 10-18 inches about 12 hours before. My area got 32 inches. Before the second snow, we warned 3-8 inches the day before. Then it was 5-18.

We were definitely not told 3 days in advance that we going to get this much snow.

I have also worked the lead up, and do not have milk or bread, but will make it.

I do not have dependant children, unlike many of my coworkers. I am not breastfeeding unlike about 4 of my coworkers, nor pregnant like two of them. One of the mothers has a spouse serving in Iraq.

THEY CAN'T STAY OVER THREE DAYS because of snow - not many breastfeeding babysitters picking up work hours during a blizzard.

I too have worked places in Florida, where we would be fired if we did not show up. For one I moved to an area that actually values it's staff more, not to mention pays better. And understands safety and priorities.

I also recognize that my facility has excellent plans in place, and quite a few employees that will be understanding and pick up for others that need to be off, not all facilities are like that.

I am all for getting to work rain or shine, but ease up, Zookeeper on the sanctimony. Many nurses have lives outside of work, may be completely snowed in, and it may not be safe to go in. And this is far from situation normal, warned or expected.

Flurries expected Saturday, and more snow on either Monday/Tuesday.

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I think everyone needs to make their own decision on what is safe and what isn't. But that means being honest about bad the weather really is. It sucks driving in this type weather, but that should not be the reason not to go to work.

I just re-read what I wrote and it doesn't sound that great. What I meant is that everyone needs to make their own decision based on the weather and their ability to drive safetly in that weather. I can't make a decision for anyone else whether or not it is drivable. Sometimes you don't realize how bad it is until you get out on the road. But on the other hand some people do use the weather as an excuse - not saying the op did, just a side note on my part. ;)

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Specializes in Rehab, Infection, LTC.

hey! my comments on this thread were about snow in general. thats what i thought the thread was about. obviously since this blizzard is what they call a "100yr storm", you do what you have to do. i would think being snowed in by 2-3ft of snow would be an exception to the rule.

i was snowed in for a week at work in the blizzard of '93. so yep tewdles, i've been there too.

my comments come from my own experiences as my point of reference. we MIGHT get a couple inches a year most years. when this happens we always have numerous call ins due to the weather when you KNOW it's just an excuse. so yeah, around this area, i DO expect you to be at work as scheduled, regardless of the weather.

for those of you in the blizzard, bless your hearts and i hope you stay warm and safe!

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Hi - This is my first time here. This thread caught my eye because I have been dealing with similar concerns. My area got a lot of snow last week, and I felt like I had to get to work because of an e-mail that was sent by my supervisor. This e-mail was sent to everyone, and basically, it said that we had to get to work despite the weather conditions with no exceptions. To make a long story short, I tried my absolute best to get to work but ended up in a bad wreck after my car skidded in the snow. At first, I didn't think anything was wrong with me and decided to not go to the ER. All I kept thinking was, "I've got to get to work or I will be fired." So, a neighbor ended up taking me the rest of the way to work. My car was totaled in the wreck.

During my shift, I began to get really sick, and I ultimately ended up in the ER. I was dx'ed with a closed head injury - a cranial contusion. All week long, I have been having a rough time, dealing with the bad headaches and related problems. I've been out sick all week long, but I have a doctor's excuse. I hope to return Saturday, but it's pushing it to go back so soon. But, I fear what will happen if I don't return.

Times are tough now for me, and I need this job. I can't lose it. This thread raises interesting questions, and it has helped me to read through everyone's responses. This past week has been stressful beyond description.

To everyone out there, if you feel uncomfortable driving to work because of heavy snow fall, listen to your gut instinct. On the morning before my wreck, my gut was telling me to not take a chance and stay home. If I had listened to my gut, I would have saved myself a lot of problems.

Before today, I couldn't hardly write, so my brain is healing. Thank goodness. I still am having problems talking though. It's frustrating.

Be safe. That's the lesson I learned last week.

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Specializes in ER, OR, PACU, TELE, CATH LAB, OPEN HEART.
Hi - This is my first time here. This thread caught my eye because I have been dealing with similar concerns. My area got a lot of snow last week, and I felt like I had to get to work because of an e-mail that was sent by my supervisor. This e-mail was sent to everyone, and basically, it said that we had to get to work despite the weather conditions with no exceptions. To make a long story short, I tried my absolute best to get to work but ended up in a bad wreck after my car skidded in the snow. At first, I didn't think anything was wrong with me and decided to not go to the ER. All I kept thinking was, "I've got to get to work or I will be fired." So, a neighbor ended up taking me the rest of the way to work. My car was totaled in the wreck.

During my shift, I began to get really sick, and I ultimately ended up in the ER. I was dx'ed with a closed head injury - a cranial contusion. All week long, I have been having a rough time, dealing with the bad headaches and related problems. I've been out sick all week long, but I have a doctor's excuse. I hope to return Saturday, but it's pushing it to go back so soon. But, I fear what will happen if I don't return.

Times are tough now for me, and I need this job. I can't lose it. This thread raises interesting questions, and it has helped me to read through everyone's responses. This past week has been stressful beyond description.

To everyone out there, if you feel uncomfortable driving to work because of heavy snow fall, listen to your gut instinct. On the morning before my wreck, my gut was telling me to not take a chance and stay home. If I had listened to my gut, I would have saved myself a lot of problems.

Before today, I couldn't hardly write, so my brain is healing. Thank goodness. I still am having problems talking though. It's frustrating.

Be safe. That's the lesson I learned last week.

PLEASE, DO NOT return to work Saturday if you are NOT 100%. You need to take care of yourself and heal. Has the doctor cleared you for work? If you are still fuzzy, having difficulty thinking and talking you should NOT be working and trying to take care of others. DO NOT worry about administration, as long as your physician can certify your not ready to work. Take care of yourself and be safe.

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.
hey! my comments on this thread were about snow in general. thats what i thought the thread was about. obviously since this blizzard is what they call a "100yr storm", you do what you have to do. i would think being snowed in by 2-3ft of snow would be an exception to the rule.

two to three feet, huh?! snort! i live on the edge of two snowbelts and we sometimes get our first few snowflakes in the last part of october. our school systems build in at least two weeks of snow days and sometimes more, depending on the forecast. the highways are plowed and salted and sanded,

several times per day when needed by the dot. this is mountainous country where most of us have trucks or 4 x 4's, or at least 4 wheel drive, but sometimes, all that just isn't enough. a six foot pile up

of snow is not at all unusual by this time of year.

we revel in cold weather activities, sometimes complain about shoveling out our driveways again, but we love it! but storms like this one aren't the norm and require extra care. you can plan for many contingencies but not for everything in a major storm. obviously, someone who is breastfeeding, has small children, some chronic health problems etc. does not have the freedom or the flexibility that someone whose kids are grown has.

i used to keep a suitcase in my vehicle from late september until about may first. a few cans of juice,

nuts, granola bars, cheese crackers, 3 changes of clothes, 3 uniforms and just in the back, a blanket and a pillow, and in the glove compartment, a fifty dollar bill. i also carried flares and cones and a flashlight and a book.

kathy

shar pei mom

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.
hey! my comments on this thread were about snow in general. thats what i thought the thread was about. obviously since this blizzard is what they call a "100yr storm", you do what you have to do. i would think being snowed in by 2-3ft of snow would be an exception to the rule.

i was snowed in for a week at work in the blizzard of '93. so yep tewdles, i've been there too.

my comments come from my own experiences as my point of reference. we MIGHT get a couple inches a year most years. when this happens we always have numerous call ins due to the weather when you KNOW it's just an excuse. so yeah, around this area, i DO expect you to be at work as scheduled, regardless of the weather.

for those of you in the blizzard, bless your hearts and i hope you stay warm and safe!

I've found that the roads can be horrendous right at the beginning of bad weather. This happens several times a winter around here. When people sometimes drive for a half hour or more to get to work (because we get all spread out in rural Iowa), the call-offs happen for a good reason and are NOT excuses. It is somewhat expected. Since the weather doesn't care about when nursing shifts start or end, staying over happens to about everyone at some time or another. It tends to equal out.

Iowans don't wuss out driving in a dusting of snow. A storm doesn't have to make the national news to be dangerous to drive in, either.

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Frankly its most dangerous to drive in a combination of rain and snow. Austin/Albert Lea in far southern Mn tends to get freezing drizzle/snow storms. Cold and rain is a deadly combination...

Keep on going-make sure you make an auto insurance claim. You probably have some income replacement coverage in your car insurance policy.....

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